Dean Gerken bears no grudges

By Tess McDermott

12:01AM GMT 17 Mar 2008

Colchester United (0) 1 Cardiff City (1) 1

Colchester United's Dean Gerken sported a black-and-blue swelling the size a golf ball on his neck as he emerged, the last of his team, from the Layer Road physio room. But, despite having been laid out by Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's boot to the head in the second half, the 6ft goalkeeper proved he is not one to bear grudges as he backed the Cardiff striker to appeal against his red card.

"He had to go for the ball," Gerken said. "I don't think he's ever going to get it, but as a striker you've got to go for these things, otherwise you're going to get rollocked by the manager anyway. Fair's fair, isn't it? He's gone in for a tackle and if a goalkeeper had done that to a striker, he wouldn't be sent off."

Hasselbaink faces a three-match ban, although he would be back for next month's FA Cup semi-final against Barnsley at Wembley. Dave Jones, the Cardiff manager, was in no doubt about the damage losing Hasselbaink could do to his exhausted side's play-off hopes. "It's a killer for us," he said. "I'm trying to give them as much rest as I possibly can. How do I give them a rest if I've got no one else? We'll have to appeal against it."

Cardiff, though jaded after a week of FA Cup and league endeavours, had taken an 11th-minute lead through Paul Parry's stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the box.

Colchester striker Kevin Lisbie caused a scare at the other end, not least in the 30th minute when, despite appearing to have been pulled back by defender Glenn Loovens, he clipped the upright.

Hasselbaink was ordered off in the 62nd minute and, after Peter Whittingham squandered a headed chance to make Cardiff safe, Johnnie Jackson gave the home side a deserved share of the spoils with an expertly taken 18-yard volley into the top corner.